THE junior section at Rochdale Cricket Club aims to hit 'em for six this season

THE junior section at Rochdale Cricket Club aims to hit 'em for six this season.

Led by an enthusiastic revamped committee the section is working hard on providing the best facilities and best coaches anywhere in the Central Lancashire League.

During the winter, six coaches qualified under the ECB coaching scheme and they've been putting their knowledge to good use at the junior nets which have been running for the past four weeks on Monday evenings at Springhill High School.

The committee hasn't taken a back seat either. They have been busy seeking significant amounts of grant aid to fund major improvements to facilities. The result is that two artificial wickets, partly funded by Rochdale Township grants, should be in place by the end of the month.

Under 13s coach Tony Harling said: "These wickets will allow us to practice more often and will also allow pre-season friendlies without affecting our groundsman's preparatory work. We also hope to provide good quality nets to surround the practice wickets before the start of the season, so they can also be utilised on weekday net sessions.''

Mr Harling revealed the next project, to which the Observer has already contributed - sponsorship boards round the ground. He said: "We're grateful to our sponsors, but many more are needed if we are to get enough boards and seating to enclose the ground."

Mr Harling said the juniors' major project, for which the club had received backing from Old Trafford, headquarters of Lancashire County Cricket Club, was a four-lane artificial facility behind the scorebox. It was hoped this would be finished later this year.

He said: "The tightening of the grant budget has slowed progress a little, but we are still confident we'll have the job done this year. The four-lane area will allow us to practice a lot more, despite our generally wet weather, by having improved drainage. We are even considering floodlighting for 2004.

MILNROW Cricket Club has announced the signing of Pakistani batsman Shadab Kabir as their professional for the 2003 season. Kabir, who has played for the Pakistan one-day side, returned home last week after scoring a century in the United Arab Emirates. A left-hander, Kabir also bowls right-arm off-breaks and has been playing for Pakistan Customs.